Game apparatus



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.

' H. M. HOLLAND.

GAME APPARATUS.

No. 563,767. Patented July 14, 1896.

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2 Sheets Sheet.

Patented July 14, 1896.

LII.

UNITED STATES PATENT Unsinn.

HOXVARD M. HOLLAND, OFI-IAMMONTN, NEV JERSEY.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 563,767', dated July 14, 1896.

Application filed January 23, 1896. Serial No. 576,526. (No model.)

.To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Bc it known that I, ITIOWARD M. HOLLAND, a citizen of the United Sta-tes, residing` at Hammonton, in the county of Atlantic, Sta-te of New Jersey, have invented a new and uselul Improvement in Graine Apparatus, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

My invention has relation to a graphical relnfesentation of a game of football; and it consists of a novel construction ot board designed to simulate a gridiron or foot ball tield, and having marked thereon divisions indicating the number of yards on either side the center, cach yard being designated by a hole in which a suitable pin or stem carrying a device simulating a foot-ball is adapted to be placed.

It further consists of a novel construction of dial or indicating device, which is provided with a suitable number of circles subdivided in proper divisions, having indicated thereon the characters illustrative of the extent of play at different stages oi' the game, the play directed by the indicator card or chart being made upon the board bythe respective sides alternately.

It further consists of novel details of construction, all as will be hereinafter set forth.

Figure l represents a plan view of a device simula-ting a gridiron or foot-ball iield embodying my invention. ,Fig 2 represents a section on line oc zr, Fig. l., showing means for support-ing the device simula-ting a foot-ball in position. Fig. 3 represents a dial or chart which is subdivided into suitable divisions, and has an index-finger thereon, as will. be hereinafter explained. Fig. i represents a perspective view of one of a set of playingn cards, which may be employed in lieu of the dial or chart shown in Fig. 3, if desired,

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding paris in the several iigures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a board simulating' a gridiron, the same being subdivided in either direction from the central point thereof by the indices B into spaces of tive yards, while the space @intermediate of said indices is further subdivided into spaces of one yard, each yard being designated by a hole D, into which the pin or stem E is adapted to be inserted, said stemhaving thereon the device F simulating a foot-ball. The board A has also thereon pin holes or other devices i'or indicating the number of downs and yards to gain, as indicated near the lower margin of Fi l,

In Fig. 3 is shown the chart or iiuleX-card employed, which consists of a suitable board or backing, having pivotally mounted thereupon the indeX-tinger ll', which is capable of being freely rotated. The said chart is subdivided by means ot aseries of concentric circles .TK to lVX, inclusive, into divisions, which are further subdivided by means of the radii J and K, it being noted that the spaces between each concentric circle and a pair of radii has thereon a iigure designating the number of yards to gain at the different stages of thc game. In the present instance every other of the radii have indicated adjacent thereto symbols LE, RE, L'l", RT, LG, RG, C, D, RR, and KO, the same designating, respectively, around left end, around right end, through left tackle, through right tackle, through left guard, through right guard, through the center, punt, return run, and kick-off, while the spaces between the two inner concentric circles and th eir radii is desi gnated,respectively, as NGF, FG, NG, G, the saine indicating no iield goal, field-goal, no goal from touchdown,77 and goal from touch-chmul.7 The above characters and their signiiicancc are clearly illustrated upon the chart seen in Fig. 3 at the right of the same.

In Fig. i is shown a perspective view of one of a pack of cards, which may be shuiiied or cut after the manner of ordinary playingcards, said cards having designated thereon the characters indicating the play to be made, while the numerals in the spaces taken in conjunction with said characters or letters indicate the number of yards which are gained by the respective plays, as will be explained.

The operation is as follows: rlhe device simulating a 4foot-hall F is placed in the center of the board, and the index-finger ll is caused to rotate, the player announcing previously the play 1which he intends to makefor instance, first he kicks off" the indexinger stopping at the point indicated in Fig. 3,indicates thatthirty yards have been gained on the kick, whereupon the pin E is moved IOO f -f *fori graphically playing' the gaine of foot-ball,' it being permitted for each player to announce f ever side said player has elected.

posing' player nowfspins the index for a re# 2 seat/e7 thirty yards or thirty holes from the center p0- sitien to the right or left, according' to which- The opturn run, and if We assume the: iingerto stop at the point indicated in itwill be seen -f thattw'entyive'yards has been gained by said return run, Whereuptmy the opposin'gplayer moves the'piny E, carrying' the device simulating'y a-y foot-balltnf'entysiive holes toward kthe startingepoint for first down. New the player will announce his play-for instancej he `says f before spinning'r ther inden-7 I1 will send the ball through the'left guard, the in dex-iinger :stopping atthe point indicated in` Fig'. 3, rn-V dicates three yard shave ybeen gained through f rleft guard, whereupon; the pin E is moved f three holes ahead. for secon d down. Each side the `play having' been :previously announced, f

f ter 'which' the player havingi so sli-iiiiiedr anc has to make iive yards on fonrdownaor the ball goes `to the opposing' side, and thus the game is continued. If a set ofcards are employed, as shownin 'Fig'. 4r, upon shuffling-and 'cutting the saine7 the characters 'designating' the same7 as will be found thereupony as `alreadydescribed acut,r makes the move 'called for. f f

fIt will thus be 4seen th at'the foregoing is a very'conipact and readily-understood system whatever play he desiresto `make prior; to making the saineywhile theadvance or retrog'ression `oi the ballfcausedi by said play is directed upon thechart (seen .in Fig. 3) andy afterwards graphically indicated` npoir the gridiron (seen in Fig. l).

lf desired, the 'following symbols can be employed to indicate the status of the gaine at different stages, it being understood that said symbols are indicated upon the dial at different points: O+ Loss. l Off side play. Foul tackle. X llolding.

Having' thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Lerters Patent, is-f l.` Againe apparatus for sions andsubdivisions thereon indicative oi.

a foot-ball ""ggridiron.7 Withholes therein atk each line of the subdivisions, a pin adapted to be 'inserted in either of Lsaid holes7 said pin having thereon the device F simulating a foot.-

ball, and the boardG having a seriesof con-y centric circles, and radial lines thereon from the inner circle outwardly,` and intermediate radial lines from another inner circle yto the outer circle, the inner spacesiorinedby said circles having marks indicative of goal play,

and revery alternate radii having marks 1n-y the purpose set forth,-consisting of the board A having diver dicative of different plays inthe gaine, while i the other,spacesha'venumerals indicative or'` yards gained in the play, said board having' the indexsiinger H, said parts bein g' combinedk substantially as described.

`2. rIn ka gamek apparatus, Vthe board G with, -f

- indexnger Il', and having concentriccircics With radial lines forming SpaCeS,m arks in said; y.spacesindicative of; distances gained rin :he play, and of goal play, and on alternate radial linesfcha-racters indicative of plays made kin the game, in combination with a board hav-r ingthe representation oa gridiron there:y

on,.substantially as described, f

8. In aA game .apparatusefor the purposeset forth, aboard having1 a1 series of concentricV circles and radii thereon, symbolsr adjacent everyotherone of said radii indicative of a playin said gaine, symbols kin the spaces formed by the three inner concentric circles indicative of thegoals'in the gaine, anda i'oi tating index on said board to determine ine play inade, said Vparts being' combined substantially as described.

HOWARD M. HOLLAND.

Vitnesses:

G. W. PREssEY, S. R. HOLLAND. 

